How about a group buy on Scuba Lessons?

[karl wagner]

I'll probably be long gone by the time it gets warm,
but I've always wanted to get certified ("to dive", not "as crazy")

There's got to be others on this forum, that for them,
this is the year to get certified as a PADI diver.

If enough people were interested,
we could probably get a good rate on it.

Anyone here an instructor or know a good one?

[Brian]

I know a few at PG dive in Newton and Under Sea divers in Beverly, I can ask around and see if they'd be willing to deal...

[NateHanson]

Wow. I'd love to do this. Not sure if this is the year I can spare enough cash for it, but I'll keep an intersted eye on this thread.

Nate

[Matt L.]

I know a few at PG dive in Newton and Under Sea divers in Beverly, I can ask around and see if they'd be willing to deal...I highly recommend PG Dive in Newton. That's where I took my SCUBA lessons this fall. They were amazing, and hilareously fun to hang around,

Matt:cool:

[SherryQ]

My husband and I would be interested - but $ is a bit tight right now.

How good of a swimmer do you need to be for scuba? Mike has trouble floating.

[AbbeyRoad]

I'm also very interested- again depending on price.

[nunofs]

How good of a swimmer do you need to be for scuba? Mike has trouble floating.

To get the basic certification, you'll need to be able to swim 200 yards and float for 10 minutes (treading water, or just floating).

Nuno

[natehat]

... further recomendation for PG Dive :), its a really great shop

[Brian]

I'm waiting to hear back from my contact at PG, she seemed to think they'd be more than willing to deal with us to try and get a good group/class rate... I'll let you know what they come back with

[Scuba_Dave]

To get the basic certification, you'll need to be able to swim 200 yards and float for 10 minutes (treading water, or just floating).
Nuno

Funny...ever since I started riding Jetski's my "swim trunks" have been 3mm neoprene. So when I started taking the scuba course I never even thought of it. Then came the test for floating.....I didn't even really have to paddle to float.
I did offer to take them off..... :eek: :rolleyes: :o

[nunofs]

When I did the 10 min floating, right next to the pier, I was floating on my back, arms up and hands crossed behind my head... the instructor was looking from the pier, and thought that I was too relaxed floating, so he started telling jokes to try and make me laugh and lose my "balance" :D No such luck, though :)

Nuno

[Scuba_Dave]

We did our test in a pool...not quite as bouyant as salt water

[Cliff Tishler]

Yes, very interested.

[Matt L.]

I'm waiting to hear back from my contact at PG,...Yo, B,

Who's you friends with there? They're such a great organization,

Matt:cool:

[Brian]

I actually know 2 of the girls there through their stints at NEAq, I haven't forgotten bout it either, but it seems they're out sick...

[Brian]

Ok, just talked to my friend Jodi, she said they would be willing to give us a group rate, but it all depends on number of people and times (Matt, Jodi and Leah are my two contacts there, don't know if you know them or not). Any ways, I need someone to take the lead on this (I'm already certified so I don't mind providing the contacts but someone else is gonna have to take it from there/here) Whoever wants to take the lead, PM me and I'll give you the contact info and such to go from there.

[Aqua Addict]

Hey Everyone... I also have a connection right next door to the store... Here is his website Pablo Krooz Dive Shop (http://www.pablokrooz.com) ... He is a great guy and his told me that his usual cost for open water training is $350 (which is already a pretty good price)and he said depending on how many people are interested he can knock up to $50 off per person. That includes Classroom and Pool Sessions, (4) Open water dives (Regulator, Tanks, B.C., Suits, and Weight Belt Rental Included), and PADI Open Water Diver Crewpack(Manual, Medical form, Dive Log and Rec. Dive Planner). The only thing you will be resposible to purchase is Mask, Fin and Snorkel which is the norm everywhere (He also said if we all get our stuff there he will give discounts). Any questions call or post.

Mike

[~Flighty~]

Thats great, you can test out your new mask and snorkel right next store :D :p

[Aqua Addict]

I will make sure that the rock tank is low on rock when everyone comes...

Mike

[nunofs]

It's funny that AA is the third LFS I know of that has a diving store right next door or across the street... is that same kind of business sinergy or just coincidence? :) Even funnier is that one of those LFS/diving-store grouping has a sushi restaurant just a few doors down on the same street ;)

Anyway, those sound like great prices.

Nuno

[Brian]

which are the other two?

[NateHanson]

Wow that Pablo price sounds awfully good. :)

[nunofs]

Brian: the one with the diving shop and sushi restaurant close by is Tropic Isle, the other one is All Things Fishy.

Nuno

[Armando]

any updates?

[Brian]

I thought the plan was to go with the place next to Aqua Adicts...

[NateHanson]

What's the ballpark cost of mask fins and snorkel?

[Brian]

Depends what style you want and how fancy you want to go with stuff. I'd think on average bout $80-100 (fins) same for mask and the snorkel is usually dirt cheep so maybe umm... $200 for a fairly good setup? It's been years since I bought either one so I could be off, someone chime in here if you know better.

[~Flighty~]

they had snorkeling mask fin snorkel sets at costco for cheep and I found the mask and snorkel to be better than the one I got at the dive shop.

[Aqua Addict]

I can get a price tomorrow on an average price of the Snorkel and Fins... He will work out a deal with us if a bunch of us buy them... I can find out when his next available class is and then we can figure out who wants in...

Mike

[Scuba_Dave]

If you are buying dive equipment, it is much like Reef equipment. Better to buy the right stuff the 1st time.

In retrospect I would NEVER buy a reg snorkel - only a dry snorkel
- basically the end closes when you go under, opens when you come back up. - No trying to blow water out when you areout of air.
More $$ - $50, but well worth it. The only way I can snorkel

Fins - lots of people like lots of things - I have Quattro pro ~$100 5 years now & I still love them. I've tried LOTS of other fins, some I like, some I don't.

Mask - I won't buy a mask that doesn't have a built in purge & multiple windows - especially side windows - much better vision. MMy new mask will have "invisible" corners to the side windows. Basically glass to glass so the side corner disappears $85-120

Wet suit - too COLD for me, water temp up here can dip to 35 EVEN in the summer at depth. I very rarely hear someone say they were HOT while diving
I now have a SEMI-dry suit - much better, keeps me much warmer
A GOOD fitting suit is a MUST. If it doesn;t fit snug - too much water will flow thru & you will freeze yer a$$ off
I bought mine on sale at the end of the year - $230? not sure

Gloves - same thing, I bought DRY gloves - they don't keep me totally dry, but the difference compared to reg gloves is HUGE!!! ~$40-50

"Socks" I wear dry socks, again - not totally dry, but stops the flow of cold water a LOT

If the only reason you are getting certified is too dive in warm water - vacation - then that is different.
But up here - yopu can dive for lobster!!! $40 permit

And if you need fins/equipment just to get thru the course we may have some to loan out (depending upon if dive season has started). Good idea to try different stuff before you buy
But usually shop makes you buy gloves, boots, mask for course (hood can be optional but not for open water around here)

I keep my old gear...now that I have the pool I'm using stuff just for the pool - chlorine is killer on gear

Good luck, we just had out FYAOD (Freeze yer A$$ Off Dive) Sunday....I was sick & couldn't dive - 1st time in 3 years I missed it

Can't wait for vacation now....

[MickyB]

any update on this? or am i too late

[Piscevore]

You better hurry up and get certified mickyb, its gonna be tough to clean all that glass without air tanks :)

[Piscevore]

I spent about 400 bucks on heather's semi dry suit, but I bought a henderson gold core 7mm suit for her. It is lined with a hydrophobic satiny soft material, and it fits very snugly to prevent water from getting in. It is actually so dry that she has to add water to it at the surface, because otherwise she has a hard time sinking...it holds a lot of air(good because its not cold water!)

Fins, booties, snorkel, mask, hood, gloves, some mask cleaner, and a set of cajones will take you a long way as a casual diver... we went out and bought wet suits for our first dive vacation (i picked up a 3mm jump suit and was fine in costa rica, which has cool pacific water). That was the first year I bought gear in 6 years of diving.

I'll probably buy another Gold Core for myself once I recover from the cost of the first one... we like the Cressi Big Eye's masks and since I left mine in costa rica in about 100 feet of water with a current, i'll probably buy another... We will be buying regs, and bcd's before we take our rescue diver course in may. Probably a pair of suunto Vyper computers (nitrox compatible dive computer) because we just did the enriched air course. After that it is steel tanks and dry suits :) You can totally go nuts gear wise, but like dave said, good gear lasts a long time.

It seems like diving in this area is fairly costly per item. They want you to rent the whole shebang. It would cost significantly more to pay the "per item" rental price for each item to make up one dive setup than it costs to rent a full dive rig, if that makes sense. They get your money either way. So we figure if we are doing a lot of diving, its a lot better to have our own gear, and have nice stuff we love.

I really like having a dive computer, especially for multi level dives. The Recreational Dive planner alone leaves you with a lot of air in your tanks. It is amazing how much more down time you can get with a good dive computer, beacuse it is doing the math real time, as opposed to rounding.

Nitrox is your friend.

That's all i have for now.

[testhead1313]

Wow, $300 sounds like a great deal. I was quoted $450 from a PADI place in Onset this past summer. I would definately be in if I can get the cash. I'll keep you posted (pun intended).
Chris